What's Actually Inside the Margarita Glasses on Netflix's ‘Sweet Magnolias'? The Star Pours It Out

Season 5 of Sweet Magnolias just premiered on Netflix, and fans have one big question - what's in those margarita glasses?

Well, it looks like there's finally an answer. Show star JoAnna Garcia Swisher (who plays Maddie) opened up in an interview with Decider, spilling the tea on what really happens when the Magnolias "pour it out" on margarita night.

As it turns out, Swisher and her co-stars, Brooke Elliot (who plays Dana Sue) and Heather Headley (who plays Helen), don't get to choose what's in their marg glasses. Instead, according to Swisher, the props department is in charge. The actress told Decider, "It's a very well-thought-out margarita. We get a little memo about it."

She continued, "They're just so creative. So I always get excited about what they're going to look like and all that kind of stuff."

If you're wondering whether the Magnolia Margarita Night is the real deal, Swisher revealed, "But they're usually like, you know, non-alcoholic. They're kind of like mocktails. Some taste better than others; some look better than they taste. But honestly, if it looks good, that's all that matters."

While Swisher doesn't have the recipes, she wouldn't necessarily rule out a Sweet Magnolias mocktail or cocktail book, telling Decider (when asked about re-creating the recipes), "I love where your mind's at."

But you don't really have to wait for a guide to make the perfect Magnolia margarita. If you're looking for something that's more cocktail than mocktail, author Sherryl Woods, who penned the romance novels the series is based on, and chef Teddi Wohlford actually collaborated on ‘The Sweet Magnolia Cookbook,' which includes ‘Helen's Lethal Margaritas.'

According to the book, the secret ingredients to make the perfect Magnolia margarita include limeade concentrate and triple sec. But that's not all. The 2023 bestseller also includes 150 recipes inspired by the hit show, such as Southern Smothered Corn Chowder, Carolina Red Rice, and Backyard Low-Country Seafood Boil. Yum!

Fans can see what Maddie's up to in NYC and get the scoop on the rest of the gang right now. Catch Season 5 of Sweet Magnolias streaming on Netflix starting Thursday, June 11.

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM.